West Girls Win #8 in a row
By Jeff Linder
The Gazette
Thursday, October 14, 2004, 10:44:57 PM
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There were no surprises in the team races. Cedar Falls captured the boys' title, and Iowa City West's girls reigned.
West continued to show no signs of vulnerability, putting all five scorers in the top eight and compiling 24 points. Cedar
Falls was second with 51, and Kennedy was third with 73.
"We had some good things and some not so good things," said West Coach Mike Parker. "It's hard to get all seven runners clicking
on the same day."
Cedar Falls' Samantha Nygren outran West's Julia Frudden, Sarah Wickman and Janet Dobyns, who finished 2-3-4. Nygren finished
in 14:48, followed by Frudden in 14:59.
Frudden and Dobyns, now seniors, were on West's 2001 team -- a squad widely considered to be the best girls' team ever in
the state. This team could turn out to be close.
"(This year), we are really close in practice and in races," Frudden said. "We're always pushing each other, trying to get
the person behind closer to the person ahead."
Parker raved about freshman Elise Walz, who finished eighth.
"We're a great team because of the astronomical improvement she has made," Parker said.
Cedar Falls' boys are another great team. The Tigers had all five scorers in the top 10 in a 31-point masterpiece.
Kennedy edged Wahlert, 55-57, for second place. It was the Cougars' first victory over the Golden Eagles this year.
"(The individual title) was one great thing about today," Craig said. "Beating Wahlert was another. They're such good competition,
and they've really been a thorn in our side all year long."
Kennedy's Adam Hairston and Ryan Williamson were seventh and eighth.